Chapter 2 — Rewriting the Villain's Script: My Daughter's Journey to Save Him

I did not understand much, but I truly admired Mother's attitude. On my sixth birthday, the system announced that time had run out, the male protagonist still did not love Mother, and the mission had failed. The punishment was absolute erasure. At the same time, the hospital delivered its diagnosis: terminal brain cancer. The system granted Mother three final days. I still vividly remember her expression at that moment—blank, despairing, agonizing, and as she looked toward me, filled with a profound sorrow and an unbearable reluctance to part. Instead of continuing to plead with Co Tri, Mother decided to seek out my biological father, Pho Ky Gon. She had tried to arrange meetings with him numerous times, but he refused to see her. The messages she sent went completely unanswered. When the final day arrived, Mother waited for hours beneath his office building, waiting until the twilight faded away, waiting until her life slipped down to its final inches. Yet he... still did not appear.

Mother was not the person Father claimed she was. I clenched my fists, looking earnestly into Pho Ky Gon's face. Mother loved Father dearly. She never forgot him. Pho Ky Gon froze for a moment, and then the smile on his lips grew even more mocking. Did she teach you to say things like that? I shook my head. No, that is not... I am the one who understands Hua Tri Ninh best. His gaze was nearly freezing. Aside from Co Tri, she has never truly loved anyone. I choked back a sob, my face turning red. I could not tell him that Mother was a transmigrated character, that she stayed by Co Tri's side merely to survive. What other way did I have to make him believe that Mother truly loved him?

Heavy-hearted, I crawled under the covers. Pho Ky Gon leaned down to pull the blanket over me, whispering softly, I am in the next room. If you need anything, just knock, understand? Yes, I understand. The bandage around his wrist was stained with blood; his wound apparently had not yet healed. Was Father hurt? I thought to myself with concern. Ten minutes later, I stood before the door of the master bedroom. Tap, tap, tap. Pho Ky Gon opened the door. His eyes were red-rimmed, his expression taut. What is it? I looked up at him. Daddy, can I come in and sleep with you? No. I clasped my hands together, putting on a pitiful expression. I'm begging you... you know, ever since I was little, I've been separated from Mother... ...Come in. He laid out a thin mattress on the floor for himself, leaving the large bed entirely for me. To prevent me from rolling off, he even left a small nightlight glowing. Daddy, aren't you going to sleep with me? A grown girl needs to keep her distance from her father. I happily bounced up from the bed. So you admit you're my father, right? Pho Ky Gon closed his eyes, refusing to look at me. Sleeping with a strange man is even more out of the question. I lay back down, feeling dejected, but in the fraction of a second when I turned my head, I caught sight of a picture frame turned face-down on the bedside table. It was a photograph of Mother. Daddy, you miss Mother terribly too, don't you? Pho Ky Gon paused for a moment, his voice stiff. No. Really? Then why, after Mother died, did you lose your will to live as well?

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Pho Ky Gon prepared to take me to the police station. I wrapped my arms tightly around his leg, crying and shouting, Daddy, I won't go anywhere! I cannot leave you! At that exact moment, the beautiful female neighbor opened her door and stepped outside. Seeing the scene unfold, she hurried over, pulling me into her arms with a look of deep pity. What is it, sweetheart, what's wrong? I sobbed breathlessly, Daddy... Daddy wants to take me to... the police station... The neighbor glared angrily. Mr. Pho, you cannot frighten a child like this! She will develop a psychological trauma! Daddy... Daddy... Seeing me cry to the point of shivering, the neighbor hugged me tightly against her chest, gently patting my back to soothe me. Don't cry, sweetheart, Auntie is here. I won't let your father take you anywhere. Pho Ky Gon... He opened his mouth to explain. Mr. Pho, your daughter looks just like you. The neighbor stroked my cheek, marveling. Her eyes and nose are an exact copy, no wonder she is so pretty. She must have inherited all the best features from both her parents, right? Pho Ky Gon furrowed his brows. He looked down at me, his gaze flickering with a hint of panic. In the end, he did not take me away.

Through the slightly ajar door of the study, I overheard him on the phone with a friend. Quac Ky, I need you to help me run a paternity DNA test. Huh? Where did a kid suddenly come from? Who gave birth to you? Hua Tri Ninh. Oh? It's her?! The voice on the other end let out a long sigh. Are you getting tangled up with her again? Have you forgotten how she treated you before? She used you and cast you aside, and now a child pops up? Can you use hair with roots? It's possible, but old Pho, don't get your hopes up. Miss Hua has been married for seven or eight years, and that little girl is already quite old. She was always head over heels for Co Tri, when would she have had the time to bear a child for you? Hua Tri Ninh is dead. ...What? She's dead? The person on the other end was utterly shocked, falling silent for a long time before speaking again. Alright, send the samples over, I'll expedite it for you. You'll have results in six hours at the earliest.

Pho Ky Gon stepped out of the study to find the neighbor feeding me yellow cherries. I shook my head. I'm sorry, Auntie, I cannot eat tomatoes. If I eat them, I get itchy and break out in hives. Is that so? The neighbor looked slightly disappointed. Seeing Pho Ky Gon approach, she smiled and said, Mr. Pho, would you like to try one? My mother picked them from the garden this morning, they are very fresh. Pho Ky Gon's expression grew complicated. I am also allergic to tomatoes. He squatted down in front of me, gently stroking my cheek, his deep gaze unfathomable. Are you... truly my daughter?

Had Father finally started to believe me? I was so moved that tears welled up in my eyes, and I threw myself into his arms. Daddy! Pho Ky Gon's heart hammered against his ribs, beating faster and faster. If she truly was... If the child truly was his... The thought, once planted, could not be chased away, lingering persistently in his mind. The hand he had raised began to tremble slightly, hesitating as he wanted to embrace me. But right at that moment, a mocking male voice rang out. President Pho, leaving the chaos at the Pho household behind just to come over here and seduce my daughter? The beautiful neighbor's face stiffened. I turned around, unable to stop myself from trembling. It was Co Tri. Co Tri stood in the courtyard, extending a hand toward me with an absolute, commanding tone. Tranh Tranh, come here. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then ducked behind Pho Ky Gon's back, peeking out at him. Pho Ky Gon calmly replied, President Co has misunderstood, I came to find Tranh Tranh... simply to reclaim my own daughter. Co Tri let out a laugh as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. Your daughter? Pho Ky Gon looked at him without answering. Co Tri's expression darkened, and he spoke again. Tranh Tranh, come here to your father. I clung tightly to Pho Ky Gon, screaming, I won't go! I want to stay with Daddy! Co Tri's face turned ashen. What nonsense are you spouting? I am your real father! No! Mother said, she would never bear a child for a scum like you! The beautiful neighbor suddenly became exceptionally busy—she wiped down a chair, rearranged the plate of tomatoes, averted her eyes, and pretended entirely not to have heard this earth-shattering expose.

Co Tri's face shifted between shades of green and white as he strode into the house, trying to grab me. Hua Tri Ninh taught you to say these things? Pho Ky Gon shielded me, blocking Co Tri from touching me. I have already sent hair samples from myself and Tranh Tranh for testing, results will be ready in six hours. Can you not even wait that long? What is there for me to wait for? Co Tri suppressed his rising anger, offering a cold smile. Pho Ky Gon, what kind of daydream are you having? The whole of City A knows how infatuated Hua Tri Ninh was with me. How could she possibly bear a child for you? I am the child of Daddy and Mother! I stood in front of Father to block Co Tri from bullying him. Mother told me herself, she only ever loved Daddy! Hmph. Co Tri stared at me for a long time, finally laughing out of sheer anger. Is this another one of her tricks? What trick? I asked blankly. Faking her death and using a child to provoke me, forcing me to come look for her. Co Tri's eyes were bloodshot as he scanned the surroundings as if searching for something. Where is your mother? Is she hiding somewhere peeking at us, wanting to see how I react? The beautiful neighbor stood nearby, looking as bewildered as if she had been turned to stone. I felt that... Co Tri seemed to have truly lost his mind. Mother... Mother is dead. I said softly. Really? Co Tri flatly refused to believe it. Then why have the police turned City A upside down and still found no trace of her body?

Mother had been erased by the system, which was why her physical remains had yet to be found. Co Tri simply believed that Mother was throwing another tantrum—angry that he had thrown such a lavish public proposal for Hua Yen Yen, angry that he had abandoned Mother for Hua Yen Yen's sake. He assumed this was just a new ploy she had orchestrated to put a stop to the wedding. Yet... throughout the past three months, news of the marriage between him and Hua Yen Yen had spread across every street and alley, and Mother still had not appeared.